9mobile Prize for Literature

Award

9mobile Prize for Literature

Awarded for| First Pan-African Prize for debut published writers
Sponsored by| 9mobile (2017–present)
Etisalat Nigeria (2013–16)
Location| Nigeria
First award| 2013
Website| literature.9mobile.com.ng

The 9mobile Prize for Literature (formerly the Etisalat Prize for Literature 2013–16) was created by Etisalat Nigeria in 2013,[1][2] as "the first ever pan-African prize celebrating first-time African writers of published fiction books".[3][4] Awarded annually, the prize aims to serve as a platform for the discovery of new creative talent out of the continent and invariably promote the burgeoning publishing industry in Africa. The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000 in addition to a fellowship at the University of East Anglia.[5]

The 9mobile Prize for Literature also aims to support publishers by purchasing 1000 copies of all shortlisted books, to be donated to various schools, book clubs and libraries across the African continent.[3]

In 2017, Etisalat Nigeria renamed itself 9mobile[6] and the award name changed at the same time.[7][8]

## Entry and prize

[edit]

The 9mobile Prize for Literature celebrates new writers of African citizenship whose first fiction book (more than 30,000 words in length) was published in the previous 24 months. The prize accepts any printed production in book form of any type or genre, written in English or published in English translation.[9] Authors and their publishers can be based anywhere in the world.[3]

The winner of the 9mobile Prize for Literature receives £15,000, a Samsung Galaxy Note and an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück. In line with the prize's vision of promoting upcoming writers, 9mobile sponsors a book tour to three African cities for the winning writer and shortlisted writers. The winning writer is also awarded the 9mobile Fellowship at the University of East Anglia, mentored by Professor Giles Foden, which includes significant opportunities to meet other writers, publishers and work on a second book. Shortlisted writers win a Samsung Galaxy Note and also embark on a book tour to two major African cities.

The 9mobile Prize has a board of patrons (in addition to the judges) who are mostly writers, academics, publishers and critics. Patrons are carefully selected based on professional excellence and a relationship with the African writing industry. Those who have served as patrons are:[10][11]

* Ama Ata Aidoo, writer, playwright and academic (2013–)
* Dele Olojede, journalist, winner of Pulitzer Prize (2013–)
* Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, OBE, editor and literary critic (2013–)
* Kole Omotoso, writer (2013–16)
* Margaret Busby, OBE, writer, editor and publisher (2013–)
* Sarah Ladipo Manyika, writer and academic (2016–)
* Zakes Mda, novelist and playwright (2013–)

## Award history

[edit]

Blue ribbon () = winner

### 2013

[edit]

From a longlist of nine titles,[12] the shortlist was announced on 23 January 2014.[13][14] The winner was announced on 23 February 2014,[15] and the award ceremony took place on Sunday, 2 March, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.[16]

* Yewande Omotoso (South Africa), Bom Boy (Modjaji Books, South Africa)
* Karen Jennings (South Africa), Finding Soutbek (Holland Park Press, UK)
* NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), We Need New Names (Little, Brown and Company/Chatto & Windus, UK)[17]

The judges in 2013 were:[18]

* Zakes Mda, novelist and playwright
* Sarah Ladipo Manyika, writer, academic
* Pumla Dineo Gqola, writer, academic
* Billy Kahora, writer, editor of Kwani?

### 2014

[edit]

The longlist was announced in November 2014[19] and the shortlist in December 2014.[20] The winner was announced on Sunday, 15 March 2015, at the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos, Nigeria.[21][22]

* Nadia Davids (South Africa), An Imperfect Blessing (Random House Struik-Umuzi, South Africa)
* Chinelo Okparanta (Nigeria), Happiness, Like Water (Granta Books, UK)
* Songeziwe Mahlangu (South Africa), Penumbra (Kwela Books, imprint of NB Publishers, South Africa)

The 2014 judges were:[23]

* Sarah Ladipo Manyika (chair)
* Alain Mabanckou
* Jamal Mahjoub
* Tsitsi Dangarembga

### 2015

[edit]

The longlist was announced on 3 December 2015.[24] The shortlist was announced on 8 March 2016,[25] and the winner on 19 March.

* Penny Busetto (South Africa), The Story of Anna P, as Told by Herself (Jacana Media, South Africa)
* Fiston Mwanza Mujila (Democratic Republic of Congo), Tram 83, translated by Roland Glasser (Deep Vellum, USA)[26]
* Rehana Rossouw (South Africa), What Will People Say (Jacana Media, South Africa)

The 2015 judges were:

* Ato Quayson (chair)
* Molara Wood
* Zukiswa Wanner

### 2016

[edit]

The longlist of nine titles was announced on 23 November 2016[27] and the shortlist of three on 5 January 2017.[28] The winner was announced on 20 May.[29]

* Jacqui L’Ange (South Africa), The Seed Thief (Umuzi Publishers, South Africa)
* Jowhor Ile (Nigeria), And After Many Days (Kachifo Limited, Nigeria)
* Julie Iromuanya (Nigeria), Mr & Mrs Doctor (Coffee House Press, USA)

The 2016 judges were:

* Helon Habila (chair)
* Edwige-Renée Dro
* Elinor Sisulu

### 2017

[edit]

The award had a hiatus. In August 2017, the name of the literature prize was changed to 9mobile.[30]

### 2018

[edit]

The winner of the 2018 edition of the award was announced on 8 August 2019, the shortlist having been chosen in January 20218.[31]

* Lesley Nneka Arimah (Nigeria), What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
* Marcus Low (South Africa), Asylum
* Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ (Nigeria), Stay with Me (Ouida Books)

The judges for the 2018 edition of the prize were Professor Harry Garuba (chair), Doreen Baingana and Siphiwo Mahala.[31][32]

## Announcement of resignation of patrons

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The founding patrons of the prize, which was established in 2012 as the Etisalat Prize for Literature, announced their resignation from the award in July 2019.[33]

## See also

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* Nigeria Prize for Literature
* Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature
* Grand Prix of Literary Associations

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pan-African Prize for Literature Project". BellaNaija.com. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
2. ^ Carolyn (7 June 2013). "First Pan-African Prize for Debut Writers of Published Fiction Books: The Etisalat Prize for Literature". Books Live. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
3. ^ a b c "Prize Profile" Archived 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 9mobile Prize for Literature.
4. ^ Malec, Jennifer (11 June 2019). "[The JRB Daily] The mysterious demise of the 9mobile/Etisalat Prize for Literature—the world's biggest Pan-African book award". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
5. ^ Osagie, Evelyn (20 July 2016). "'We won't cut prize money for literature awards'". The Nation. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
6. ^ Wale Odunsi, "Etisalat Nigeria speaks on change of name to 9mobile", Daily Post, 18 July 18, 2017.
7. ^ Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, "Etisalat Prize for Literature becomes 9mobile Prize for Literature" Archived 2 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Daily Trust, 6 August 2017.
8. ^ Japhet Alakam, "Etisalat Prize for Literature Rebrands to 9mobile Prize for Literature", Vanguard, 13 August 2017.
9. ^ "Terms & Conditions for 9 mobile Prize for Literature" Archived 2 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 9mobile Prize for Literature website (retrieved 3 August 2017).
10. ^ Terh Agbedeh (26 June 2013). "Sustainability of literary prizes, as new one debuts". National Mirror. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
11. ^ Patrons Archived 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 9mobile Prize for Literature.
12. ^ "The Inaugural Etisalat Prize for Literature Longlist". Sunday Times Books LIVE @ Sunday Times Books LIVE. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
13. ^ "Etisalat Prize for Literature Announces 2013 Shortlist". Etisalat Prize. 23 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
14. ^ Lindsay (22 January 2014). "The Inaugural Etisalat Prize for Literature Shortlist Announced". Books Live. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
15. ^ Abodunrin, Akintayo (2 March 2014). "Toast to African writers at Etisalat Prize for Literature". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
16. ^ "Noviolet Bulawayo Wins Etisalat Literature Prize". www.thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
17. ^ Ben (23 February 2014). "NoViolet Bulawayo Wins the Inaugural Etisalat Prize for Literature". Books Live. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
18. ^ "List of Panel of Judges for Etisalat Prize for Literature out", Vanguard, 21 July 2013.
19. ^ Literature, Etisalat Prize For (11 November 2014). "Etisalat Prize For Literature Press Release | Longlist For 9 mobile Prize for Literature 2014 Announced". Etisalat Prize For Literature. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
20. ^ Nation, The (13 December 2014). "Candidates announced for Etisalat Prize for Literature". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
21. ^ "South African Songeziwe Mahlangu Wins the 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature For His Story ‘Pen Umbra’", BellaNaija, 16 March 2015.
22. ^ Micheal Abimboye, "South African wins Etisalat prize for Literature", Premium Times, 16 March 2015.
23. ^ Abodunrin, Akintayo (20 July 2014). "Quartet announced as judges for 2014 Etisalat Prize". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
24. ^ "Etisalat Prize for Literature Announces 2015 Longlist". CSR Newswire. African Press Organization. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
25. ^ Mitchelle Okuku (18 March 2016). "Meet the finalists of the Etisalat Prize for Literature 2015". naij.com. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
26. ^ Jennifer (19 March 2016). "Fiston Mwanza Mujila wins 2015 Etisalat Prize for Tram 83". Books Live. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
27. ^ "9 Authors Make Etisalat Prize for Literature 2016 Longlist" Archived 3 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 23 November 2016.
28. ^ "Etisalat Prize for Literature Announces 2016 Shortlist" Archived 2 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 5 January 2017.
29. ^ Obi-Young, Otosirieze (20 May 2017). "Jowhor Ile is the First Nigerian to Win the Etisalat Prize for Literature". Brittle Paper. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
30. ^ Ago, Arinze (8 August 2017). "Etisalat Prize for Literature rebrands to 9mobile Prize for Literature". City People Magazine. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
31. ^ a b Malec, Jennifer (8 August 2019). "Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ announced as winner of 9mobile Prize for Literature for her debut novel Stay With Me". Johannesburg Review of Books.
32. ^ Otosirieze Obi-Young (8 August 2019). "Ayobami Adebayo Wins the 9Mobile Prize for Literature, for Stay with Me". Brittle Paper.
33. ^ "Announcement of Resignation from the Founding Patrons of the Etisalat / 9Mobile Prize for Literature". brittlepaper.com. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2024.

## External links

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* 9mobile Prize for Literature Archived 2 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine official website.
* Prisca Sam-Duru, "Echoes from Etisalat Prize for Literature", Vanguard, 8 March 2014.
* Elinor Sisulu, "Lagos, one long literary and artistic lime: Etisalat Prize judge Elinor Sisulu reflects on a trip of note", The Johannesburg Review of Books, 5 June 2017.